Your safety might depend on dropping your terror preconceptions

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Photos:Explosion in Manhattan

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, second right, look over the mangled remains of a dumpster Sunday, September 18, in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. An explosion injured 29 people there the night before.

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Photos:Explosion in Manhattan

Authorities believe the blast was caused by an explosive device in or near this dumpster. All 29 victims have been released from hospitals, according to the governor.

The New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Bureau tweeted this image of the crumpled dumpster following the explosion in Chelsea.

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Photos:Explosion in Manhattan

Just blocks away from the explosion, a suspicious device was found. Officials said the device appeared to be a pressure cooker with dark-colored wiring protruding, connected by silver duct tape to what appeared to be a cell phone.

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Photos:Explosion in Manhattan

De Blasio, in the blue tie, speaks at a news conference near the scene on Saturday. He was joined by New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill.

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Police block off a road near the site of the explosion.

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Firefighters and emergency workers gather at the scene.

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Police officers and firefighters respond to the scene.

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A New York police officer and his dog check a garbage can close to the scene of the explosion.

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Two heavily armed police officers survey the scene.

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New York police at the scene of the explosion.

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A bomb squad vehicle arrives at the scene.

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Police arrive at the scene of the explosion.

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A street is blocked off nearby.

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Police and firefighters gather near the scene.

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A crowd gathers near the site of the explosion.

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A line of emergency vehicles near the scene of the explosion.

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Onlookers gather on the street.

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Story highlights

Dean Obeidallah: If we want to keep Americans safe, we need to be on guard against all threats, whoever the suspects

Many are less likely to be alarmed by non-Muslims engaging in what should be seen as suspicious activity, he says

Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM's weekly program "The Dean Obeidallah Show," a columnist for The Daily Beast and editor of the politics blog The Dean's Report. Follow him @TheDeansreport. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.

(CNN)Let's not play games or be "politically correct." Common sense tells us that the bombings Saturday in New York City and New Jersey were acts of terrorism.

But too often these days, we don't hear the word terrorism used by the media or elected officials until they know that the perpetrators involved have some kind of international links. And we know what that means: Muslims.

The problem with that approach is that it makes us less safe as a nation.

Dean Obeidallah

Thankfully, on Sunday, the governors of both New York and New Jersey declared that the bombings in their respective states were terrorism even before the identity of those involved was known.

As New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, "A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism."

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie echoed that sentiment. (And both responsibly refused to speculate who committed the bombings, or what their motives might be, until more facts were known.)

These two governors should be applauded for speaking the truth. In contrast, elsewhere, we often see political correctness turned on its head, and the word terrorism isn't used unless the person involved in the attack is a Muslim.

The result is that Americans are often led to believe -- despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary -- that only Muslims commit acts of terrorism.

Less alarmed by non-Muslims?

Why is this so dangerous? Simple -- many people are less likely to be alarmed by non-Muslims engaging in what should be seen as suspicious activity.

The tragic thing is that Roof had been posting alarming images online in which he declared his support for white supremacist causes while -- holding a gun. No one seems to have reported him to the authorities. Imagine if that had been a Muslim with a gun?

And in 2014 a married couple that had been spewing hateful views killed two police officers and a bystander before killing themselves. Shockingly, they had not even been secretive about their ideas, with one neighbor even noting the couple had been "handing out white-power propaganda and were talking about doing the next Columbine." This is truly white privilege run amok.

We need to ensure that people call the police about scary white people just the same way they would about a scary Muslim -- or any race or religion in between for that matter.

In the case of the bombings Saturday, it may or may not turn out to be ISIS-related. It could also turn out to be something completely unrelated -- perhaps a personal grievance gone horribly wrong.

I'm not in any way suggesting the bombers can't be Muslim, or that in this case they have to be "white people." We simply don't know as of now. But the identity of those involved with these bombings will not alter the fact that their goal was very likely not only to kill and maim specific people, but to terrorize us.

Similarly, no one is saying that every violent event should be labeled terrorism, and law enforcement needs to be more restrained and follow the federal statutory definition of "domestic terrorism." We need to apply common sense. That's why although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack in Minnesota, police are still investigating.

But ultimately, if we truly want to keep Americans safe, we need to be on guard against all threats. And our media and elected officials can go a long way in helping us by using the word terrorism when it's applicable, regardless of the background of the suspects. That approach will go a long way in keeping all Americans safe.